Caribana mess

more money woes for caribana. This latest financial crisis, however, could very well mean the end of city funding for the annual summertime fest and parade of Caribbean culture.

To secure next year's funding, the Carribbean Cultural Committee's books are supposed to be audited. It's a condition that was set out by council when it decided to boost the festival's funding in 98.

But after two years of relative calm and financial stability, there's no clean audit this year, and the committee is in crisis.

Receipts are missing. The books have been removed from Caribana headquarters. The outside auditor hired to check the financial records has quit. Civil war has broken out between competing factions inside the committee.

Now, one of Caribana's key political supporters, council liaison Joe Mihevc, says he can't recommend funding the parade this year without a clean bill of health from the auditor.

"We can't throw money into a dysfuntional organization," says Mihevc. "Ours is a grant to support a festival. It's not a bribe to allow the same old crap to continue every year."

Without the city's backing, matching funds from the province are almost certain not to flow.

But the death knell has been sounded before, and council has relented each time under pressure from hotels and restaurants that stand to make millions from tourists drawn to the event.

Caribana CEO Herb Boland did not respond to requests for comment.

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Enzo was born in Belgium and emigrated with his family to Canada in the heat of Trudeaumania. He is a winner of numerous writing awards and the only (alleged) Commie banned from entering Cuba. It’s complicated. Claims to fame: champion wood-chopper.